California Biographies

Source: History of Fresno County, California, with biographical sketches of 
the leading men and women of the county who have been identified with 
its growth and development from the early days to the present (1919)

History By Paul E. Vandor 
Illustrated, Complete In Two Volumes 
Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, California, 1919
 
Notes: Missing+page1185-1186

Transcribed by Peggy Hooper

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives 
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm


JOHN MANEELY. � Another successful ranchman who is engaged in 
developing the country around Barstow is John, familiarly known as "Jack" 
Maneely, who arrived in San Francisco the day that President McKinley 
was buried, and a year after his brother, Alexander Maneely, whose inter- 
esting life story is given elsewhere in this work, also came here. He was 
born in Dumfries, Ont., on June 19, 1870, the son of John Maneely, who 
came from County Cavan in Ireland, and came out to Canada when he was 
about thirty years old. In Ontario the father married Catherine Johnston, 
also of Irish birth, and there he followed his useful trade of a weaver. He 
became the father of six children, and died in Canada. After his demise, 
Mrs. Maneely went to live in Manitoba, where she now resides. 

Favored with the usual schooling of the average American boy, John 
grew up to come west to Montana when he was of age, where he began 
railroad work as a fireman. Fie engaged with the Northern Pacific and con- 
tinued with that company for about four years, when he went to the neigh- 
borhood of Richville, Wash., where he bought railroad land and improved 
it so that he could follow farming. 

Next he went to the Philippine Islands, during the Philippine War, 
where he was in the employ of the United States government as a teamster, 
spending about two years in traveling throughout Luzon, and for two years 
he was with a troop of the First Cavalry, and then he returned to San Fran- 
cisco, and came on to Los Angeles. Bridge work on the Southern Pacific 
next engaged him, and then he entered the service of the Fresno Traction 
Company. 

In 1904, with his brother Alexander, he bought 100 acres on the San 
Joaquin River opposite Barstow, located there, and set out a vineyard and 
orchard, and planted alfalfa. About 1910, however, he sold his interest to 
his brother and then came to Fresno, where he entered the employ of the 
Associated Oil Company, and for five years worked under Calvin Hill. Next 
he went with the ice company at Coalinga, for a year. After that he came 
to Barstow, and has since been busy with horticultural pursuits, making one 
of the really attractive show-places, and producing some of the best fruit 
sent from any Fresno County farm. 

While in Los Angeles, Mr. Maneely was married to Mrs. Gertrude 
Kelly Emery, whose sketch is given elsewhere in this work. While enjoying 
his delightful home at Barstow, Mr. Maneely is still engaged in breaking 
into new paths in the science of farming. He is a member of the Red Men, 
and belongs to the Fresno Lodge, No. 244; and he is quite as popular in the 
Fraternal Brotherhood.